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How to Latch Hook

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Today we’re going to learn how to latch hook. An easy and rewarding craft project!

My love of scatter rugs has been well documented on this blog here,here and here. In fact, this has been a thing with me for as long as I can remember… When I was a kid, we had these gigantic pillows that acted as floor cushions that we’d use to rest our head on the ground, or curl up on for a nap. We even took these big things to the drive in movies where my dad would pop open the back of his Bronco and we’d recline in comfort and watch the flick.

Those cushions Momma made herself, out of carpet remnants. I remember running my fingers through the shag absentmindedly while watching The Smurfs, cuddling up with one when reading a book and once when I was really little, snuggling up on one with a mug of hot chocolate, crying because I didn’t get my way (and thinking that I must look very grown up with my steaming mug in my hands). I have a ton of memories where those gigantic brown pillows are included in the background.

When I got my first place as an adult I purchased cheap sheets, cheap towels, cheap dishes but I splurged on an ivory 2 inch shag throw rug. I’d lay on the floor with my new puppy, Virgil, and run my fingers through that rug. I loved that rug.

And then a few weeks ago I was cleaning out the garage and I found that very rug in my keep boxes and I ran my fingers through and set it aside to wash and bring into my bedroom. But somehow things got confused and I found myself crying outside of a house wares donation box in the rain when I realized that, in the flurry of making my second or third trip to the box that day, I had accidentally donated that very rug.

It’s silly to cry over a rug, I know it, but I decided that I would learn to latch hook so that I could make one very similar. Today I’m sharing with you the basics and in a bit, perhaps a week or so, I’ll share with you the pattern I created for the rug I’m currently working on.

This is a latch hook tool. They cost between $3-6 and feature a variety of handles. I purchased the one shown above and a wooden handled one but I greatly prefer the plastic handle shown.

And here is the “latch” on your hook. It fits loosely up against the upper hook when raised and rests on the metal shaft when in the lower position. It moves freely and easily between the two positions.

This is pre-cut rug yarn. Since this was my first rodeo, I decided to use the precut so that I’d have one less thing to worry about. That worry being that I jack up a bunch of rug yarn by not cutting the pieces evenly. I’ve been through about 10 packages at this point and I’ve found that there are going to be some (and sometimes entire packages) where the length is different but it’s still surely better than if I cut all of these pieces by hand.

This is mesh rug canvas. I purchased the 30″ x 36″. When working up your rug, you need at least 1 inch of canvas on all sides when done latching.

Let’s get to it.

The canvas is stiff and kind of scratchy and looks like it is made of rope. In one direction the rope looks solid and in the other the rope looks twisted. When latching you’re always going to work off of the rope that isn’t twisted, or the one that appears to be a more solid piece.

Push your latch hook up underneath the first section where you want to place your yarn. See how the canvas makes a line across the tool? Push the tool up high enough that the latch mechanism is above that line.

Take a piece of your rug yarn and run it underneath the tool UNDER the line the canvas makes on your tool.

Pinch the two ends of the yarn together and wrap both pieces into the open mouth of the hook. The latch will stay in the downward position.

And just because I couldn’t decide which picture best explained the step above, here is this one, too.

Hang on to the yarn and begin pulling the tool downward, back out of the canvas. The line from the canvas that runs across the tool will push the latch up and lock in the two ends of the yarn. Continue pulling and you’ll get a knot with the two ends sticking out. Use your fingers to tighten the knot (this makes the yarn look longer).

After you get going, you can pull the knots tighter and have to do less adjustment with your fingers as you go. For the sake of consistency I am tugging on every looped bit of yarn to make sure it is nice and tight.

And that is all there is to working on latch hook. It’s really, really easy and something that I’ve been doing for about 4 hours every evening the past 4-5 nights. You can easily watch TV while latch hooking as long as your pattern isn’t crazy involved.

For the most part I really don’t like the latch hook kits I’ve been finding at craft stores. This is why I decided to make my own pattern my first ever go of it (and I actually said that first night – why can’t I do things the easy way?) BUT, there are some neat vintage patterns that you can find online. I especially like these two on Etsy. And since you’re just buying a pattern rather than a kit, you can pick your own colors!

Reader Interactions

Comments

Woah! That seems to be a lot of work, but is sure really great to have afterwards!An self made rug is something really special I think… but I don't think, I would be persistent enough.And if I would have accidentally donated my rug I would have gone back and cried there until they are annoyed of me and would give it back to me. (Yes, I'm a legal adult.)Have a wonderful weekend!

It really is a lot more work than I bargained for, Mid – but every time I look at my rug in progress I'm so proud that I think it's worth it. I am a bit burnt out on it and I think that I'll be taking a bit of a break from latch hooking for a few days! And I called the number on the box but they informed me that they had no way of knowing where the rug was and if or when it would be sold in a thrift location. I didn't cry on the phone, but I had no shame in letting them know that I was really upset! You have a fantastic weekend, too!

Do you have any idea why the knots would be working loose? I have done latch hook rugs before and never had a problem, but now the knots are loosening and have even worked all the way out. They have been pulled tight to start with, so I can’t imagine why it is doing this. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

Hmm. I don’t know why they would be pulling loose. I think a good solution would be to glue a piece of felt or backing onto the backside of the rug. It will hold all of those yarn bits in place so they can’t wiggle loose on you.

I used pre-cut yarn, the brand was MCG Textiles in the colors 301 white, 302 black, 304 yellow, 360 blue, 368 ruby. You can buy directly from them online if you cannot locate them in a store around you: http://bit.ly/14qnPVc

I’m not sure if you have craft stores but that would be the best place to start. You could also purchase one through an online store like Amazon (not sure if they ship to Venezuela, though!) and you can find some great deals that will ship anywhere in the world through Ebay!

Thanks so much for the advice, I have just started latch hooking and was not impressed, then I read about the twisted and solid parts of the canvas which I had never seen on other help pages, now I am very happy, doing my own pattern as kits are so expensive, I usually do tapestry rugs and cushions, so this is very new to me, but the cushion is shaping up and if it hadn’t have been for your page I think I would have got fed up quickly. Thanks

It’s cool to see you venture out with your own pattern :) I eventually want to do one with all my dogs and cats, recent and deceased. I figured I’d make a nice big floor pillow :)
I’ve done latch hook before. However, I just bought a new kit, and the CORRECT way to have the canvas (twisted on sides of squares and more solid on top and bottom) does not have enough squares across for the pattern. I would have to rotate it and do it incorrectly to make the pattern fit….is this okay? Do you have any suggestions? I’d greatly appreciate it!!

I decided to try latch hooking again after 45 years and was so happy to have found your site to get me going again! I’m sure it’ll be like riding a bike! (Although at almost 61, I don’t think I’m gonna try THAT again LOL) I sit and watch a lot of TV lately and I’d rather busy my hands with a craft than an entire tube of Pringles :)

Is it your opinion that getting a blank canvas with “instructions” for the pattern is better than buying a pre-stamped patterned canvas? It seems to me I was following pre-printed lines back in the 70s and early 80s when doing this. I would think having to go back and forth to “instructions” would leave too much room for (my) errors?

I also remember the hooking tool being wooden handled. So wondered why you prefer the plastic?

I just found this today, while looking up instructions for latch rug hooking. My girls started many a kits back in the day (20 years ago) and now, I find myself making a rug. I am restoring a 1976 vintage travel trailer and want a funky shag rug for it. They are so expensive now that vintage is in. I couldn’t remember if I needed to wash to rug hooking canvas before starting as it’s so stiff. I guess not. I hope my hands survive the roughness! :)

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